My Hockey Alpha

Nina

I caught up with the team in the middle of the athletic field. They were stretching for their run. I tried not to look at Enzo as he stretched, because watching his muscular form only made me want him more. Regardless of what Tiffany said about her college love, I still felt hesitant about Enzo with everything that had happened since I met him. Besides, I had to focus on school and work. Now was not the time to be worrying about boys!

The team looked up when I joined them on the athletic field as they stretched. Feeling a bit nervous, I started to stretch, too; most of them seemed P excited that a girl was joining them on their run today — including Justin — but apparently my presence bothered one player. His name was Bryan. “You’re running with us?” he asked, standing up from his stretch.

“I suppose so,” I replied with a sheepish nod.

Bryan frowned and folded his arms across his chest.

“You’re not gonna slow us down, are you? Everyone knows girls can’t run as fast as guys.”

Before I had the chance to respond,

Justin stepped in at the same time and defended me.

“Hey, don’t say that about her!” Justin said, balling his fists up at his sides.

Meanwhile, Enzo simply stormed up to Bryan and glared down at him. Bryan wasn’t a small guy in the slightest, but Enzo still towered over him and made. him look dwarfed.

“How dare you be so rude to our team doctor,” he said, his low voice practically a growl. “Just for that, you can drop and give me fifty push-ups. Right now,”

“Fifty?” Bryan whined.

hundred if

got down on

speak now,” Enzo said. No one made a peep. ” Alright,” he

his pushups, grumbling to himself, as the team

was a small trail that broke through the trees, which made its way through the forest. There were a lot of these trails all around campus for students to hike on — and while I was a

jogged behind them, I couldn’t help but observe Enzo’s form; he ran with an impressive amount of stamina, leading the group, just like how he ran that day on the

and jumping over fallen trees. Somehow, although I hadn’t run like this since high school PE class, I eventually found myself running at the front of the group with Enzo and Justin while the rest of

said you would hold us back,” Enzo said, slowing down just a little bit to match my pace so he could run beside

I’ve never really been sporty at all. My parents made me play on the junior tennis team for one semester in middle school, but I hated sports so much that they gave up and let

I looked over at him and

bit uncomfortable now as I was

teammates, Matt, called from behind us.

slight frown on his face,

Enzo said

don’t-” I replied, but was suddenly cut off by

fun!” Justin said. “Sort of like old times.

a feeling that Justin was trying to get some sort of angle here, but as the rest of the team

my hands

behind it poised to